OFA Certifications

[ElsasFamily]

Thanks to the wisdom of people here I will be having Elsa's hips X-Rayed while she is being spayed in November. She will be 19months old then.

I was thinking I would also like to have her OFA certifications done. But how would that work. From the looks of it the vet does the x-ray and then the films are sent away to OFA. Is this right? Also, I thought there was something about hips and elbows wouldn’t be certified until the dog was two years. So should I wait until then?

I'd like to have this stuff done for peace of mind and to be aware of any health issues. But also because I want to begin agility training with her. Should I have other certifications done as well?

Thanks for helping me make sense out of all of this.
Kim

[brunie's mom]

If I remember your dog came from a BYB??
Why does it matter if you get her OFA certification? Good breeders have it done and enourage their puppy owner's to have it done...so that they can see what is happening with the health of their lines,etc. and who should be bred to who.

The vet can see from her x-ray if she has problems with her hips or may have problems with her hips in the future...there is no need to have this on record if it is for your own knowledge. She is more than old enough to be x-rayed.

I had Baxter x-rayed when he was neutered at 13 months. Vet said his hips looked great. I told his breeder that if he has to be knocked out for any reason after the age of 24 months that I would have his hip x-rayed again and sent to OFA.
Then it will be on record and there will be some knowledge for littermates to be bred in the future or a repeat breeding,etc.

I would not wait with your girl...have her spayed now. Keep her healthy.

Gina

[ElsasFamily]

Yup, she did come from a BYB.

I thought OFA was a specialist looking for problems, more than what a vet could see. I thought it was a good thing to have done, even if you weren't going to breed them. I must have misunderstood.

I do have intentions on joining a club to help me learn agility training with her though. So the OFA certs wouldn’t be needed then either right?

Elsa will be spayed in November; I felt it best to switch vets before the operation for more peace of mind.

Thanks Gina for helping me along.
~Kim

[Ann Felske-Jackman]

If you want to know whether her hips are good enough to be considered passing by the ofa, I would not rely on your local vet to determine that. You'd be surprised with the quality of radiographs and opinions that many of us have seen/heard over the years. If you're considering agility, it's worthwhile to evaluate her elbows also, as they are what takes the brunt of the jumping. While there are certainly dogs who can and do compete at very high levels with hips and elbows that would not pass the OFA, you will want to know what you're dealing with before asking these things of your dog.

You can send x-rays to the OFA before she is two to receive "preliminary" findings. Their rate of accurately assessing prelim's (ie. how well they match up to the offical evaluation at 24 months) is very high. These prelims will tell you whether her joints are good enough to pursue some of the more demanding sports, such as agility. You will not need an offical OFA certificate in order to compete in these sports. The organizations hosting classes/trials count on your to know whether your dog is sound enough to participate.

[brunie's mom]

I think most vets know when they see good hips in an x-ray.
They may not know if they are fair, good or excellent and may not be able to grade them...but if they are bad...trust me they will know.

My poor ,late and great Bruno, had terrible hips and even a layman with one eye could have seen in his hip x-rays that they were BAD.

I agree.. if you plan do do any agility,etc., good to have a picture of the elbows too. It's hard when you have no history on this dogs parent's or grandparent's.

Just have her spayed ...and at the same time have her x-rayed....it will be just for your own peace of mind.

Gina

[BostonRott]

I think OFA certification is a good idea, and yes, they are more specialized and "better" than a regular vet. The xrays need to be done a certain way, and you can't get an actual rating until the dog is 2. They will give you a preliminary rating, but no number or certificate at 19 mos.